There are a number of different website builders and content management systems out there, but WordPress has to be one of the most popular. It’s used widely as a blogging platform, for both casual blogs and professional ones, but it can also be easily adapted to be a business site, an e-commerce site, and even an online forum. That’s great, but what if you want to manage your WordPress site while away from your computer? What about the readers of your blog who want to view your site on their mobile devices?

Thankfully, there are a number of fantastic apps, plugins, and tools for WordPress on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. They can be used to take care of both the front end and the back end of your WordPress-powered website. Just as there are social media apps for the iPhone and iPad that make your social networking easier, the same can be said about handling your WordPress site with a few swipes of your finger across that touchscreen.

WordPress for iOS App

Official WordPress iPad App

It only makes sense to start this list with the official WordPress for iOS app. Just like WordPress itself, the accompanying mobile app is also completely free with no real restrictions. The main attraction of this app is that you’re able to gain virtually full access to the WordPress dashboard without having to navigate through the regular brower-based interface. This is an incredibly comprehensive app. You can use it to write new blog posts, edit your existing posts, moderate and edit comments, and upload and insert photos. You can even adjust some of your settings and view your stats. Pair this up with a good Bluetooth keyboard and you’ll have one of the best mobile blogging setups possible.

Notificare WordPress Plugin

Notificare Plugin and App for WordPress

Normally, you’ll automatically receive an email message when someone posts a comment on your blog. That’s handy, in case the comment requires a reply or you need to mark it as spam, but you can see how getting to Inbox Zero becomes that much more difficult…and these comment notification e-mails can easily get lost in the mix. Countering that is the relatively simple Notificare plugin and app. In essence, you get push notifications to your mobile device when a comment needs moderation or attention on your blog, allowing you to better manage the comments from WordPress on your iPhone or iPad.

Mobify Mobile Sites

Mobify WordPress on iPhone

Even though our smartphones and tablets are getting much more powerful, they offer a completely different kind of user interface than the one we get on our laptops and desktop PCs. That’s why I always appreciate when there’s a mobile version of a site available. You really should be doing the same with your WordPress blog. Making the process as seamless and attractive as possible is Mobify Studio, letting you adapt your website for any device. There are no set costs, so you will need to ask for a custom quote.

WPtouch Mobile Theme

WPtouch Mobile WordPress Theme

Maybe you don’t have much of a budget or you want something even more basic. Perhaps one of the best ways to get WordPress on iPhone for free is the WPtouch plug-in by BraveNewCode. This is a WordPress theme that you can install and it will automatically detect when a visitor to your site is coming from a recognized mobile device. If that’s the case, it will show the WPtouch mobile theme. If the site visitor is coming from a regular computer, then your standard theme will be displayed instead. The mobile theme offers thumbnails, commenting, and a touch-friendly interface that just works.

WiziApp Blog to App Converter

WiziApp Converts WordPress to iPhone App

Both Mobify and WPtouch above effectively translate your regular WordPress site into one that’s more easily viewed on the smaller screen of an iPhone, but readers still have to visit your site manually in the mobile browser. Taking it to the next level is WiziApp, a WordPress plug-in that can convert your site into a native iOS app. That’s complete with all your content — posts, pages, images, comments, tags, and more — ready to be enjoyed as a standalone app. And, yes, your app can then be made available through the iTunes Store and even monetized with AdMob.